Director, Brand Partnerships & Branded Content

Crazy Maple Studio is a fast-growing company based in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, focusing on mobile gaming, reading, and streaming. We are proud to have a global team that drives our innovation and success across diverse markets. Our flagship platform, Reel. Short, is the #1 vertical streaming app in the U.S., with over 8 million DAU, delivering bite-sized episodic content that keeps viewers hooked.

Other standout products include Chapters, where users shape immersive stories across drama, fantasy, and romance, and My Fiction, a platform for consuming and creating serialized romance. We’re proud to be recognized as one of the Global Most Loved Workplaces 2025, reflecting our commitment to innovation, creativity, and an employee-first culture.

Position Overview

Reel. Short is seeking a brand partnerships leader to bring brand investment into our content. Based in Los Angeles or the Bay Area and reporting to the General Manager, this role sells branded content and co-production partnerships to consumer brands and their agencies, where the brand funds production and the title launches on our platform.

You know the brand marketing budget calendar well enough to be in the room before the budget is allocated.

Key Responsibilities

Source, pitch, and close branded content partnerships where the brand co-funds production in exchange for integration and co-marketing Own the brand-side commercial relationship end to end: pitch, scope, pricing, contract, and renewal Build and work the agency channel — media agencies, creative agencies, and branded entertainment shops — as a durable source of inbound deal flow Time the pipeline to brand budget cycles, pitching one cycle ahead rather than chasing remaining spend Build the sales collateral: case studies with performance data, a rate card, and a standard partnership deck Manage external consultants and vendor relationships in this area, with a clear recommendation to the executive team on which to keep, replace, or drop Partner with the content team so integrations serve the story — a partnership that damages watch-through is not a win Requirements 8+ years in brand partnerships, branded entertainment, integrated marketing sales, or agency-side account leadership, with a closed-deal track record An active book of brand-side and agency contacts you can activate in your first 60 days Working command of how brand marketing budgets are planned, allocated, and defended, including the timing of the cycle and who holds the pen Experience with entertainment or content-led partnerships, as opposed to pure media buying Ability to run the full cycle solo, from cold outreach through contract Beauty, fashion, footwear, CPG, or gaming category experience a plus Prior work with creator-economy, social-first, or short-form video partnerships a plus Experience managing talent or casting partnerships as part of a brand campaign a plus Self-directed, commercially sharp, and comfortable building from a blank page Benefits Crazy Maple Studio, Inc.

provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Our target salary range for this role is between $150,000 and $200,000. Actual starting salary within the range will depend on various considerations, including: work experience, skills, specializations, and training. This role is also eligible for an annual performance bonus, competitive healthcare, and other employee benefits.